Notes:

. 1783 Sep 23, Princeton, NJ. Done in Congress, Elias Boudianant, President:
Lawrence Keen, Esq. is appointed Prothonotary for Northumberland county, in the room of Mathew Smith, Esq., resigned.
Ref: New York Gazetteer & Albany Northern Intelligencer Newspaper, published 27 Oct 1783.

. 1789 Jul 26 - Died on Sunday, the 26th instant in this city, Lawrence Keene,Esquire, Prothonotary of the Co. of Northumberland, after a long & painful illness; & Monday his rains are followed to the grave by a large & respectable number of his fiends & follow citizens.
His body was deposited in a vault in Christ Church Burying found, until it can be removed, agreeably to this own most earnest desire, to the town of Sunbury.
Ref: New York Daily Gazette.

. 1810 Oct 16, Tues. I will sell at private a Lot of Ground containing about 36 acres, with a quarter of a mile from Fells Point, granting on the road from Toon's Gardens to the Philadelphia road & immediately to the northward of a lot known by the name of Gilmours Gardens, formerly belong to Mr Gilmor. This'll be sold together or in lots as shall best suit purchasers. Any person wishing it, may be shown the hole of the property, by my son-in-law, Mr. Lawrence Keene, who lives with me, who has plats thereof. it will be offered for public sale on premisses, the 29th instant, at 12 o'clock in the forenoon. Luther Martin, Oct. 10th
Ref: Federal Republican Newspaper, Baltimore, Maryland).

. KEARNY, LAWRENCE, MSS, 1814-1844., 5 vols. Gift of J. Lawrence Boggs, 1937.
Two log books of the U.S. Ship Warren, 1827-29 & 3 letterbooks, 1814-29, 1839-44, kept by or for Kearny while in command of U.S. Brig Enterprize, frigates Potomac, US, Constellation & ship Warren.
Ref: A guide to the manuscripts collection of the New Jersey Historical Society.
Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - - -

Died:

Notes:

. First wife on 21 Oct 1762, his cousin, Christiana Stille, b 1744. children: Henrieta 1763 8 7-1831 11 19; Sarah 1764 8 1-1765 8 4; Ann 1766 0 28 - 1767 8 10; Peter died after 1800 S. Carolina; Reynold 1768 1 28-1843; Mary 1769 4 16-1838 8 30; Richard Settle 1770 12 20-1775 6; Sarah 1777 10 14-18591 19.

. She was heiress-at-law of her father. died 3 Nov. 1777, Reading, PA.
In 1780 he married his second wife was the widow Patience Barclay, died 4 Jan 1781.

. Ann Lawrence was his third wife. Married 1782.

. Reynold Keen was appt. Commissioner for Berks Co., Penn. to audit war expenses. He moved his family to Reading, PA, which at the time was occupied by Gen. Howe. He returned to Philadelphia to work. This later lead to charges of consorting with the enemy & some loss of property.

Obituary
1800 Sep 4 - Died, on Friday last, after a short illness, in the 65th year of his age, Reynold Keen, esquire, one of the aldermen of this city.
Ref: Federal Gazette, Philadelphia.

1800 Aug 30 - WILL ofReynold Keen. City of Philadelphia May 22, 1800. Y.393., Estates in Somerset & Wayne Counties & Phila.
Christiana Wife1 & their children: Henrietta, Christiana, Sarah, Mary, Wife of Charles Evans, Reading, Dr. Peter Keen, Reynold.
Present wife2 Ann: Laurence, Elisha, Elizabeth, Lucy Ann, Ann Leconte, John, Lewis, Juliana.
Executor: John Lardner, Esq., John Stitle, the elder, Son Reynold Keen, wife Ann. - - -

Birth:


Died:
(Alt DOD 1 Aug 1823 Aged 72).

Buried:
Familty tomb

Reynold married Anne LAWRENCE, .i on 30 May 1782 in Gloria Die Churchyard, Wicacoa., New Jersey. Anne (daughter of Elisha LAWRENCE, Jr., Esq., .2 and Elizabeth BROWN) was born in 1751 in Chestnut Grove, Pennsylvania; died on 1 Aug 1823 in Burlington County, New Jersey; was buried in Gloria Die Churchyard, Wicacoa., New Jersey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Third Wife of Reynold Keen.

Note to research: The birth date of Anne Lawrence is sometimes erroneously given as 1741.
This would mean she was 43 at the birth of her first of 8 children. -PJ Ahlberg.

. 1788 Mar 13, WILL of Elisha Lawrence of Upper Freehold Twp., Monmouth Co., Gentlemen:
daughter Ann Keen, wife of Reynold Keen of Philadelphia, £465. - - -

Died:
in her 72nd year. [1851].

Notes:

Married:
Marriage Registration #429; Reynold KEEN and John LAWRENCE (seal but no signature) [bound to Will'm-LIVINGSTON, Governor... 500 pounds on 29 May 1782. Contract of Marriage between Reynold-KEEN... and Nancy LAWRENCE of Monmouth.

Notes:

. 1787 Dec 24, Allentown Academy is now opened for the reception of scholars where are taught the following: English, Grammar, ...Latin Greek, Composition & eloquence. on the public stage road between NY & Philadelphia, about 15 miles from NJ College. £6 per year. By order of the Trustees, Dec. 19th 1787, Elisha Lawrence, Clerk.
Verify this Elisha Lawrence.

. 1788 Mar 13, WILL of Elisha Lawrence of Upper Freehold Twp., Monmouth Co., Gentlemen:
Daughter Elizabeth Newell, wife of Dr. James Newell, house & ground in Allentown where they live during their lives;
then to their eldest son Elisha Newell;
he paying his brothers John & Robert Newell £20 each.
Son, John, of Burlington, negro woman Rose & negro boy Paddy.
Son Elisha homestead, called Chestnut Grove, 3260 acres, also all other personal; He making the following payments:
- son John, £975,
- daughter Elizabeth Newell £300,
- daughter Lucy Lewis, wife of Nathaniel Lewis of Philadelphia, £300,
- daughter Ann Keen, wife of Reynold Keen of Philadelphia, £465 Each,
- grandchildren: 2 silver spoons make E.E.L.,
Executors: Sons John & Elisha, neighbor Peter Covenhoven.
Witnesses: John Lawrence, Daniel Danser, Wm. Colwell
Proved Jul 26 1792. Ref: NJ Lib 34, p 323
xxdate Renunciation by John Lawrence & Peter Covenhoven.
Ref: NJ Calendar of Wills, File 6737-6738M. - - -

Birth:
Ref: His Monument

Died:
- in 90th year; Will 1788.3.13, Proved 1792.7.26.

Buried:
Red Valley, Monmouth Co., NJ, Plot 5.

Elisha married Elizabeth BROWN in 1727 in New Jersey. Elizabeth (daughter of Dr. John BROWN and Mrs. Elizabeth (John) BROWN) was born on 1 Oct 1709 in Leichestershire, England; died on 1 Apr 1772 in Upper Freehold, Monmouth Co., New Jersey; was buried in Yellow Meeting House Graveyard, Cream Ridge, Monmouth Co. NJ. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

* It was the Quakers, escaping persecution in England, who were the primary settlers of Burlington County, arriving in 1677 & 1678. The Quaker belief in the primacy of education (for boys & girls) led to the proliferation of early schools in Burlington County, resulting in a great number of preserved one-room school houses throughout the county.

. Between 1677 & 78 persecution in England lead to many Quakers emigrated to Burlington Co., & from there to Penn. Quakers built many schools for both girls & boys because they believed in education.

. 1897 J. Lawrence Boggs of Perth Amboy recorded the Yellow Meeting House monument: "Elizabeth Lawrence, Born in Leicestershire. October 1st, 1709, Died April 1st, 1772, aged 62 years & 6 months." - - -

Died:


Buried:
Aged 62 y 6m 0ld large horizontal stone. Red Valley.

Notes:

Married:
Alt date 1725

Notes:

. Elisha, son of William, commenced business as a merchant in the latter part of the 1700, at Cheesequakes, on the south side of the Raritan, but his store having been pillaged by the crew of a French privateer, he removed to Upper Freehold then a wilderness.

. 1688 May 12. Patent to Elisha LAWRENCE of Middletown, for two hammocks of land at Shoal Harbour, Monmouth Co., 20 acres, S. Upland, W. William Camptone, N. the sage meadow, S. E. grantee.

. Elisha Lawrence was one of the earliest & most prominent settlers of Monmouth county. He married Lucy Stout & died at Chestnut Grove, Upper Freehold, May 27, 1724. Reprinted 1916.

. 1764 Elisha Lawrence, Jur, West Jersey. Letter waiting in the Trenton post office.

. Richard Salter sold an additional 185 acres near Crosswicks to Elisha Lawrence for £50 on 19 Nov, 1717. Including housing buildings, edifices, structures, barnes, stables, orchards.

Ye Olde Yellow Meeting House Land Elisha Lawrence, Fourth Assembly 1708-9; Fifth Assembly 1709, Co. of Monmouth.
William & Elisha Lawrence, Seventh NJ Assembly 1716, County of Monmouth.
1721 - Elisha Lawrence was Representative to the Assembly.

* Summary: a long & fairly exciting tale of Middletown Proprietors' grievances, rebellion, swords fights, petition of complaint signed, Wm. Lawrence, & numerous others, delivered to the Governor; with a speedy retreat to a waiting ship, firing canons off as a farewell gesture.
"The following is a true copy of the record of this court, which made so much talk & excitement in New Jersey, & among the Proprietors in England, & which brought public matters to a conclusion so far as any further attempts to coerce & drive the people of Middletown township. March 25, 1701, Monmouth."

. They are here represented in a court record, as being guilty of rank rebellion for the mere purpose of enabling- a strange pirate named Moses Butterworth - to escape ... a certain pirate belonging to Kidd's crew - A drummer was sent into to the court as a diversion, the guards were overcome & the pirate drag out of the court to freedom. ... Governor Hamilton sends the petition to the William of Orange. Essentially, the Proprietors' lands were sold out under them by the Governor .
Ref: Early Dutch Settlers of Monmounth Co., NJ, By Geo. C Beekman, Freehold NJ.

. 1696 Jan 1 0 - At the publique Middletown meeting agreed the poor rate to £30. Persons chosed to make the sd. rate, Ben. Borden, Obediah Bowne, Elisha Lawrence & Will Lawrence Jr. Signed, Will Lawrence, Towne Clark.
. 1723 Jun 17 - Lawrence his brand mark for his horses is L on the near buttock. Entered by me, Elisha Lawrence, Towne Clerk.
Note: Elisha recorded many ear marks that day. -PJA

. 1722 April 14. WILL of Lawrence, Elisha, of Freehold Township, Monmouth Co., yeoman;
Wife Lucy.
Children: Elisha, John, Joseph, all three under age,
Elizabeth, wife of John Saltar,*
Sarah, wife of John Imlay,
Hannah, wife of Richard Saltar,
Rebeckah. Farm at the mouth of Buckhold Brook in Doctors Creek along James Coxes & Robert Burtnetts line. Personal Estate (bonds due by Capt. Richard Saltar & by John Saltar).
Executors the wife & son Elisha.
Witnesses Robert Imlay, Thomas Saltar, Alse Imlay.

. Codicil of March 15, 1723-4, makes another disposition of the land & calls daughter Hannah, wife of Richard Saltar.*
Witnesses Daniel Hendrick, Petter Imlay junior, Zebulon Cleayton, junior.
Proved May 27, 1724.
Ref: NJ Calendar of Wills, Lib. A, p. 293.

. 1724 May 2. Inventory of the personal Estate ( £775.8.4, incl. plate £30, a Bible, other books & 40 gamoas £7, 3 negroes £150, 2 white servants £21.3.4); made by Richard Saltar & Zebulon Cleayton. Endorsed: to be left at Jam Vanlletes in Allenstown.

. 1713 March 31st, The peace of Utrecht:
Having put an end to hostilities between Great Britain & France, & terminated a merciless war upon the American continent. Some leaven of the political spirit, which had been engendered during the administration of Gov. Cornbury, still worked, at times, among the people, & in the Assembly. Graham Mott, & Elisha Lawrence, merchants from Bergen, who had been of Cornbury's party, having entered on the minutes of council, reasons for voting against aiding the expedition to Canada, were severally expelled the House of which they had become members, ...was actually a ploy to delay passing certain measures & was meant to irritate the Governor.
Ref: History of NY.

. 1897 J. Lawrence Boggs of Perth Amboy recorded the Yellow Meeting House Monument:
"Here lieth the body of Elisha Lawrence who died April the 25th 1724, aged 58 years 2 months & 8 days."

Stone reads: By indulgence of the General's family, his companions in arms, erected this tribute of affection the 1st day of January, 1800 (Large horizontal stone.)
Ref: Historical Miscellany, Vol. 2, John Stillwell.

. The 4th child of Wm. Lawrence, Elisha, born in 1666, began business as a merchant near the end of the century at Cheesquakes, (now Mongan's Railroad Station) on the south side of Rarity.

The 3 Elisha's all were owners of the family homestead, Chestnut Grove. When the first Elisha Lawrence died, in 1724, the meeting house was the only public burial ground within 25 miles, a great distance in those days.
Ref: Three Men Named Elisha.
Buried at Chestnut Grove, Upper Freehold, Monmouth Co., New Jersey.

Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - - -

Birth:
1. Newtown, Long Isl., NY. 2. Middleborough, LI, NY.

Died:
Aged 58y 2m 8d [21 Jun 1665.] Heart engraved on black Monument reads 1724.

Buried:
Slate monument.

Elisha married Lucia LUCY STOUT on 12 Jan 1691 in Middletown, Monmouth Co., New Jersey. Lucia (daughter of Richard STOUT, Jr. and Frances HEATH) was born in 1675 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth Co., New Jersey; died on 27 May 1724 in Upper Freehold, Monmouth Co., New Jersey; was buried . [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"Cousin of her sept-mother, Elizabeth Lawrence".

. 1698 Mar 10. Elisha Lawrence & wife Lucy of Middletown to Jeremiah Stillwell, late of Gravesend, LI, for the following lots in Middletown:
(1b) 120 a. of Horse Neck, E. Thomas Morfoot, w. at creek. n. unsurveyed, s. Neversinks.
(2) 3 a. meadow e., Thomas Morfoot, s.w. & n. unsurveyed, the whole 123 acres granted to Thomas Herbert by patent June 4, 1677, by him sold to Robt. Hamilton, by him to Wm. Lawrence, who conveyed it to present grantor.
(3) a lot on Hogpen Neck, bought of John Reid June 9, 1691. - - -

Birth:
ALT DOB 1665 Shrewsbury, Alt Name Lucy.

Died:
Alt Name: Lucy.

Notes:

. John Bowne, above named, left England in 1649, & arrived at Boston the same year. His first visit to Flushing, was on the 15th of June, 1651, in company with his brother-in-law, Edward Farrington.
He married Hannah, daughter of Robert Field, at Flushing, May 7th, 1656, & in 1661 built the house there, which we have just above noticed, & which has been occupied constantly by some one of his descendants.

His wife became intimate with some of the people called Quakers, who at that period, were obliged from necessity, to hold their meetings privately in the woods, & other remote places. She became attached to the society, & was received as a member amongst them. Her husband, mostly from motives of curiosity, attended their meetings, & was so powerfully struck with the beauty & simplicity of their worship, that he invited them to his house, soon after which he also became a member of their society; " not merely (as he observes,) from kindness & affection to his wife, but his judgment also was convinced of the principles they held forth for a little time his faith was put to the test, & he had to partake, in a large degree, of the sufferings to which others of his faith & profession were exposed; & his persecutions, imprisonment, banishment, & severe privations for the truth's sake, & the testimony of a good conscience, were such as most persons would shrink from, in this our day of ease & quiet enjoyment.

The said John Bowne, had a severe sentence passed against him, on the 14th of Sept., 1662, & the governor finally proceeded to such extremities, that the said Bowne was actually transported to Europe, to be tried for heresy, & his disregard of the orders & placards of the governor & council. He was patiently heard before a committee of the Investment? Company; who, finding him a discreet man & steadfast in his region, set him at liberty - with the following severe reprimand in the form of an epistle, directed to Governor Stuyvesant:

. 1663 Apr 6 - Amsterdam, [NY City]
"Sir: We perceive from your last letter, that you had exiled & transported hither a certain Quaker, named John Bowne. Although it is our anxious desire that similar & other sectarians may not be found among you, yet we doubt extremely the policy of adopting rigorous measures against them. In the youth of your existence, you ought rather to encourage than direct? the population of the colony.

"The consciences of men ought to be free & unshackled so long as they continue moderate, peaceable, offensive, & not hostile to the government. Such have been the maxims of prudence & toleration by which the magistrates of this city (Amsterdam) have been governed; & the consequences have been, that the oppressed & persecuted from every country, have found among us an asylum from distress. Follow in the same steps, & you will he blessed."

Mr. Bowne remained several years abroad, visiting many parts of Europe, & returned to America in the spring of 1665, his wife having died in London in the month of February preceding, & his father, Thomas Bowne, also, during his absence.

He of course found the country in the possession of the English, but calling upon the puissant Stuyvesant, now a private citizen, he expressed his regret for having used so much severity toward him & his fellow Quakers, whom he frankly admitted to be among the most valuable citizens.
Ref: Historical Genealogy Lawrence Family. Their first landing in this country AD 1635 to the present date JULY 4, 1858.

. 1715 Jan ye 12 - Then Obadiah Bowne Desired to have the Earmark Recorded for him which was formerly his Father John Brown - as followeth, viz; A Crop on the Off Ear & a Slitt In the Crop & Another In the fore side of the same Ear. Now Entred Per Me, Willm. Lawrence Junr., Town Clerk. Now Recorded to his Son John.

. 1737 May 8. WILL of John Brown, of Mansfleld, Burlington Co., Doctor;
Dau., Elizabeth Lawrence. Each grandchild now born 20 shillings & a silver spoon.
Wife, Elizabeth, sole executrix & to be guardian of grandson John, son of my son, John Brown, dec'd.
Witnesses: John Rockhill, Peter Imlay, Isaac DeCow, medius.
Proved Aug. 1, 1737. Lib. 4, p. 109. - - -

Birth:
Verify location.

John married Mrs. Elizabeth (John) BROWN. Mrs. was born est 1658; died on 5 Jun 1759 in Burlington County, New Jersey. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

. 1754, June 5. WILL of Elizabeth Browne, of Upper Freehold, Monmouth Co., widow of Dr. John Brown of Burlington Co:
Daughter, Elizabeth (wife of Elisha Lawrence), sole Executrix.
Grandchildren: John Browne
John Lawrence,
Elizabeth Lawrence (now Newell,)
Elisha Lawrence, Jr., Lucy Lawrence, Anne Lawrence.
Personal property, including a silver pint cup & silver spoons.
Witnesses: James Magee, Peter Imlay, Jr., & William Dunterfield.
Proved June 5, 1759. NJ Lib. 9, p. 219. - - -

Died:
WILL proved. (WILL written 1754 June 5)